"So you're saying she predicted a union with someone? And she saw bright light?" Adam laughed into the other end of the phone.
"Yep," Alice replied as she booted her computer at her office desk. "Her words, exactly."
"That's crazy. Honestly, why did you girls go to this fortune-telling woman again?"
"It was Stella's idea. Veronica agreed to play along so I was outnumbered."
"You could have just gone home early, excused yourself. You would've saved yourself twenty dollars."
"I know, I know, but it's already been done now. Hey, at least it was an experience and now I can say I would never recommend that old lady to anyone."
Adam laughed, "Right. Hey, so did you sort that problem out with your boss?"
Alice sighed.
"Oh, hey, I've gotta go. Dinner tonight?"
"Sure."
"Your place?"
"Ok."
"Alright, I'll swing by your place around six. You can tell me more about it then."
"Ok. Bye."
Alice tried to console her guilt with what Veronica had said about celebrities and their job. She typed up an article and sent it to her boss.
When Alice got home from work, she made sure the house was ready for Adam to come over. She'd cleaned the kitchen, rearranged the lounge and gotten herself all ready by the time Adam rang the doorbell.
"Hey," he smiled, greeting her with a kiss and presenting her with a bouquet of flowers.
"Hi," Alice smiled back, taking in a breath at the sight of her boyfriend dressed casually in a turtleneck and jeans. "You didn't have to get me flowers."
"But I wanted to."
"Thanks. Do you want to order or we could make something?"
"Up to you."
"Um, well I've got stuff if we want to make something or we could order…"
Adam looked at Alice, "My choice again?"
Alice didn't say anything.
"Let's go for Chinese then."
"Ok."
The snuggled in front of the t.v while waiting for their delivery to come.
"So you were going to tell me whether or not you worked out that problem with your boss."
Alice smiled at the fact her boyfriend remembered.
"Well, I decided to write the article."
"Really?" Adam asked, pulling back to give her a look of surprise.
"Don't give me that look! I felt really guilty the whole time but I was just following orders."
"So you felt guilty about doing it and knew it was wrong to begin with but you still did it?" Adam asked matter of factly.
Alice sighed and pulled away, "Please don't put it that way."
"Sorry if you want the sugar-coated version, Al, but the way I see it, you had a choice."
"I know, but my boss-" Alice stopped at the disappointed look that her boyfriend gave her. "You know, I did think about it. Veronica was telling me, it's part of their job being a celebrity to accept those kinds of things."
"So that gives you the right to pry into their private lives?"
"Okay, okay, I know I was wrong, please don't keep having a go at me like that."
Alice gave Adam a sad look. Because the truth was, it hadn't come easy for her to write about Melissa Hamiltons. She knew her boyfriend was right. It was like he was her conscience or something. God, it killed having a conscience sometimes.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to have a go at you like that, c'mere," Adam said, holding out his arms to pull Alice into his embrace. "I just wish you'd stand up for yourself sometimes. You do have a choice, you know, don't always do what others want you to do just to please them."
"I know."
They lay cuddled for a few moments, just enjoying each other's company and warmth.
"So how was your work today?" Alice asked.
"Same old. There's not a day in project management without a hitch. Seems like you solve one problem and another comes up."
"Sorry to hear that."
"Mmm, you're meant to be my distraction," he murmured, tangling his fingers in her hair and nuzzling his face against the top of her head. Alice smiled and looked up at her boyfriend. He grinned down at her and leaned in for a kiss. Again she found herself leaned back against the couch with Adam on top of her. Alice pulled away, breathless, panting for air. Adam was the same.
"Sorry if that was going too fast," he murmured against her face.
"I do want to do it with you," Alice whispered desperately, seizing this second chance to voice what she hadn't been able to the last time. After all, she'd thought about it since and she did love Adam.
Pulling back slightly, he stared Alice in the eyes. She blinked, her breathing still coming out in rapid puffs. Adam sighed and sat back up. What had she done wrong this time?
"Adam?"
"Alice, I see the fear in your eyes and it's stronger than your want to be with me."
"But I do want to be with you!"
"I told you, Al, I want it to be because you truly want it, not because you want to make me happy. I'm your boyfriend, I know you."
Alice could feel the tears in her eyes. What could she do to make him happy?
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have gone this far. I should've known this would happen, after last time."
There was silence for a while.
"So what now?" Alice whispered.
"I think it's best if I go, and keep to myself for a while."
There was a hiccup in Alice's heart rate as her chest tore at Adam's words. Was he – was he suggesting they take a break? Alice chewed on her bottom lip, trying to stop the tears from falling.
"So - so we're taking a break?"
Adam placed a hand on Alice's cheek and shook his head, "I just need some time to myself, that's all. You going to be alright?"
Alice nodded.
"I'll call you, alright?"
Alice didn't say anything. Adam stood up, placed a kiss to her forehead, then grabbed his things and left. After he'd gone, Alice sat frozen in place. It wasn't until the doorbell rang that she was jolted out of her daze. Racing to the door, she opened it, expecting to see Adam. But it was only their Chinese food.
The following Saturday, Alice met up with her best friends at their usual place. Apparently Veronica had special news to tell them. Alice was grateful for something to do, something to keep her mind of Adam. He'd texted her a couple of times, but never rung and they hadn't seen each other since that event.
Alice got to the diner early and dropped into their usual booth. Stella arrived a couple of minutes later and gave her a big squeeze.
"You don't look so well," Stella said, forehead marred in a look of concern.
Alice broke out a smile, "I'm alright. It's just been a while since I've seen Adam."
"Oh, why's that?"
"There's just some stuff going on between us at the moment and he wants some time to himself."
"Oh no, I'm sorry."
Alice shook her head, "It's alright though. We'll be ok."
Stella smiled too and gave Alice's hand a squeeze, "Of course you will be. He's so in love with you."
"Thanks. How've you been anyway?"
"Oh, you know, same old."
"Got over your tummy bug?"
Stella laughed, "Yeah, it seems to have gotten better, but I swear, it must be going round the kids at the moment. It seems to come and go."
Alice smiled. She didn't know how Stella did it. Being a primary school teacher, she dealt with thirty children a day. Just babysitting Lily and Jasmine alone was enough. But Stella's kind nature suited her job.
Veronica arrived a moment later, long legs clad in leather tights and black hair slicked back – a bold statement for a true fashion designer.
"Hey girls," she greeted, leaning down to kiss them each on the cheeks. "How are we?"
"Same old," Alice replied.
"So what's this big news you wanted to share with us?" Stella asked as Veronica slid in beside her.
Veronica grinned, "Impatient are we?"
"Oh don't give us that rubbish," Stella swatted her arm. "You called us all out here, now spill with it."
"Yes, Miss," Veronica teased.
Alice laughed.
"Alright, ladies, prepare yourself."
Stella rolled her eyes.
"You've heard of Nadia Davies, right?"
"Of course, the famous singer from our local town."
Veronica nodded, "Weeeell, she's got a concert in our town coming up and she's asked me to design her outfit!"
The girls all squealed with delight.
"When did this happen?"
"Yesterday."
"See, all your hard work was bound to pay off!"
"Oh my goodness," Stella exclaimed as something dawned on her. "You remember that fortune-teller?"
"What about her? Oh my god, is she here?" Veronica wrinkled her face in disgust.
Stella shook her head, "Don't you remember-"
"Of course I remember, do you even have to bring her up at a time like this? You're totally killing my limelight."
"No, no. What'd she say to you when she made your prediction?"
"Something about a famous person…" Veronica's voice faltered as she realised what she was saying. They all pieced two and two together then looked at each other.
"You don't really think-" Alice began.
"Oh that's rubbish," Veronica interrupted. "She could have said that to anyone."
"But what she said came true!" Stella exclaimed.
"Yeah but that doesn't mean anything. It's just a coincidence. And besides, all she said was 'famous person', that could mean anything."
"There was a famous person though…" Alice said.
"Oh for God's sake, she could've said 'fish' and it would've come true!"
Stella frowned, "What do you think she meant by 'new life'?"
They all went silent.
"I can think of something but you probably don't want to hear…" Veronica said.
"Go on."
"Don't kill me for saying this."
"Veronica, are you telling me or not?"
"Death."
Alice gasped. Stella frowned, intrigued.
"How so?" she asked.
"You know, passing onto a new life and all."
"Oh god, do you really think-"
"Stella, relax," Alice chided, seeing her panic-stricken face.
"You don't think someone in my family's going to pass, do you? My gramps is getting pretty old and it's probably time-"
"Stella!" Alice exclaimed.
Veronica just looked at Stella with wide eyes. She'd rarely ever seen her friend so panicked.
"Look what you've done, Veronica."
"I'm sorry!" Veronica said, holding her hands up in mercy. "But come on, do you really think what that old woman said was true?"
"Her prediction for you came true didn't it?" Stella said.
"Stell, we've been through this."
"Ok, say what she predicted did come true, there's hardly anything we can do about it, right? What's going to happen will happen."
The worried look on Stella's face didn't leave.
"Don't stress over it, Stell," Alice consoled.
When their food finally arrived, the aroma could be smelt wafting from a distance. Opposite Alice, Stella had covered her face up with a hand again. "Stell? What's wrong?"
She shook her head, "I swear, those kids are passing the tummy bug around like a box of crayons!"
Veronica laughed at the analogy, "Still got the tummy bug?"
"I think it's another one. I swear I was better again and now this."
"God, sucks to be you, stuck around germy children all day," Veronica said.
"Hey, I happen to like my job."
Veronica rolled her eyes.
"Veronica, stop being so cynical," Alice teased. "I think Stella makes a great teacher."
"Why thank you."
"Not denying that," Veronica said. "I'd just never be crazy enough to put my hand up to be around kids for a profession."
"You wouldn't want to have your own kids, full stop," Stella goaded.
"Or a boyfriend," Alice added.
Stella nodded while Veronica shrugged her shoulders.
"Do you really plan on staying single forever?"
"Why not? Who says you have to have a man to be happy?"
Stella looked like she was about to retort but Veronica cut her off.
"Oh enough about me. Look at all this good food in front of us."
"Mm, Veronica's right."
At work the following Monday, Alice was sent on another coffee run. So much for 'my turn to get the coffees next time.' They'd all come up with up with excuses.
"I'm running late on my articles."
"I've got to compile a whole lot of research."
Alice had stopped listening and simply agreed to go. When she got back with the steaming cups in her hands, they'd all crowded around like she was the most popular thing in the room. And then once the coffees were gone, so were they and Alice was, once more, left to her corner of the room. Christine, her neighbouring colleague continued to ignore her so Alice carried on with her work.
"Hey, Alice," Marlene, one of the editors, greeted her.
"Oh hey, Marlene, what's up?"
"Read your work on Melissa Hamiltons," she grinned. "Some juicy stuff, huh? The boss was pretty impressed."
"Really?" Alice asked, a smile lighting her face.
"Oh yeah, he's pretty pumped for this article. Keep up the good work, aye?"
Alice nodded as Marlene headed off. At least there was something currently in life to be happy about.
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